FET/IVF/ICSI July 2023

[Olivia199]

Hello!

Just wanted to start a thread and see if anyone was going ahead with a transfer in July.

I've just had my nurse consult and hoping to have my second FET in July (my first was successful in Jan 2021 and I had my wonderful DD).

The first time around I was of course beyond nervous, excited, terrified it wouldn't work etc. This time it feels like that's doubled! I'm a private patient so I've saved everything for this but should it fail, it'll be a long long time before I could afford to try again.

To add some nerves, I'd need to be cycle day one no later than the 6th July to go ahead, as my clinic is moving locations. I'm currently due on the 5th...! So every chance it's moved to a Sept cycle.

Would be nice to have some company!

:)

Wow the Easy@home tests sounds like a nightmare, will avoid at all costs!

@Lauralozzle I did my IUIs in winter and really struggled with being cold, not being able to have hot baths and avoiding going out so same as you I'm hoping for nice warmer and dry weather for my cycle so I can be out enjoying it and not wearing a million layers.

Wow - so many BFPs! Congratulations all! Hope everyone in the TWW is hanging in there (although who are we kidding, it's a 6 day wait until we cave in and test early, am I right? haha).

We also got struck down big time by a sickness bug but luckily I recovered before I started my meds, because I wasn't sure what we would have done had I not kept mine down.

Estrofem (South African brand name but think estradiol here?) makes me so grouchy and tired... I fly to Cape Town tomorrow and have my first lining scan on Tuesday - will probably start clexane and progesterone (this time the injections in oil that I am not looking forward to) and then the transfer date will be worked out from there.

I still had baths during my pregnancy - in fact I did all the stuff the NHS tells you not to after reading 'Expecting Better' lol - as long as the water isn't over 40 degrees C it's fine and I had a baby thermometer with a digital reading. Don't deprive yourselves!! : https://www.amazon.co.uk/TensCare-Duckling-Digital-Water-Thermometer/dp/B00E972VZW/ref=sr_1_6?crid=RC45XHLVUBQX&keywords=bath+thermometer+pregnancy&qid=1690037373&sprefix=bath+themometer+pre%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-6

Feeling half excited and half super nervous - this is our last frostie and so if it doesn't work then I have to start looking at clinics in Europe and start the egg retrieval all over again at the ripe old age of 43...

6 day.. or 4 day! 😂
Oh no! Sorry to hear you got a bug too. It's just grim and honestly keeping down my meds was the hardest part. That and crawling from the bathroom to do a pesserie, only to head right back. Grim and not something I'll forget!

Ooh how exciting! All going in the right direction!

I had lower temperature baths too, using a baby bath thermometer (handy for the baby too then!) But I was told to avoid post transfer due to infection risk and same for EC. Also, something wildly less satisfying with a bath that doesn't turn you into a lobster. Especially when it's pouring outside and chilly. Still, worth it when the timing is right!

Oh I can absolutely understand the fear and I've got everything crossed for a happy BFP for you!

@Olivia199 haha - two days to go for you then! Why do we do it to ourselves?! 😂

I am fully in the bath turns you into a lobster camp. The clinic last transfer said baths were fine if just warm, but just warm felt cold to me and it was an unpleasant experience!!

Might have a last hurrah bath tomorrow night as well. Make sure my legs are shaved!!!

Trigger injections done ✅ No more injections now.

We went out today to get some sandpaper. We came home with a hamster 🐹

Shopping trip successful then 😂

@loulamay - I've no idea! It doesn't help that my first positive with my DD was on day 4. So I'll be a wreck! No chance of holding out though. I am not strong willed in any regard.

I enjoyed my last hurrah bath a LOT. Though maybe too much, because I did forget to shave my legs. Which I thought would be fine, but forgot they don't turn the lights down like they do for scans. That was a long and uncomfortable wait for the embryologist to declare the catheter free of any embryo!

Yay! Congratulations on being done with the jabs. What a relief!

Hahaha, amazing, that beats my shopping list for sure. I've definitely been there myself. Enjoy your new teeny companion. Do we get hamster tax photos?

I've three cats, otherwise I'd be tempted!

@Lauralozzle That is an interesting shopping accident 😂

Love the hamster purchase @Lauralozzle 😂 we also have cats so wouldn't be wise here. Exciting that you've done with your injections now!
I love love baths too, my clinic didn't say anything about after EC so I did have one last night to help with cramps but I will hold off after transfer. Although if it works, I may have to get one of those thermometers @loulamay as I can't imagine no baths for 9 months!

Hahah I dont have a bath in my house anyway, just a walk in shower, so thats not an option for me. But in any case, Ive always gotten a bit bored in baths, so even when I did have a tub, I just didnt partake very often!

Love the hamster purchase @Lauralozzle ! Im a big fan of hamsters! My last one was an unsociable little shit, but he did live until he was 3!

Have not been in a position to have any pets for years, as I was away all the time, and it wouldnt have been fair to ask others to take care of my pet for, sometimes, months at a time!

I have no other colour but white in my goo... which is disheartening... Nor any cramps... But I have had a slight pain on my left side... but who knows what that is? Could be gas!

I have decided Im gonna start testing from Monday, as that will be 5dpt. The doctor said that if I dont have a positive by 7dpt that there is no chance Im pregnant and that has raised the stakes massively for me...

I dont want to have any symptoms, because a symptom free pregnancy is my actual dream, but I cant lie that I feel a bit deflated that there is not mild spotting, just as a reassurance... Or a bit of cramping...

@ASGIRC Spotting has only ever meant bad things for me so I'd say take it as a good thing that there's none :)

@ASGIRC - I didn't spot with my first. Well, I did have a few big bleeds, but I was already confirmed pregnant so no chance it was implantation!

I'm fairly sure mine is from the little cyst she knocked during transfer to be honest.

I know! Im just being silly! Only 30% of women actually have any implantation spotting!

And again, I want to have ZERO symptoms!! Like my mom! Who only found out she was pregnant with my brother because she went to the doctor, as her period wasnt coming (after I was born), and the GO could her the heartbeat straight away!! She was already in her 2nd trimester!
Obviously I will know before, but I want to feel NOTHING! No nausea, no bloating, no swelling, no heartburn! Hahaha

Just need a BFP on Monday!!!!

also, so you pee on a stick or into a cup and then dip?

@ASGIRC i appear to have had implantation spotting this time which appears to have stopped now. Apart from that I have absolutely no symptoms, which in a way I wish I did as would make the positive test seem more real lol 😂
I pee in a cup then dip, I’d never be able to aim for enough time to get any sort of reading if I didn’t 🤦🏼‍♀️
Good luck for Monday

Well ladies my ClearBlue is no darker this morning so I'm afraid my numbers aren't doubling and this will end in a chemical or blighted ovum for me 😭

@ASGIRC - I wanted the same and unfortunately didn't have as such. Hoping I have an easier ride this time! Though it is reassuring to have them. I just feel like I can absolutely live without the sickness. I dip because I do not have the necessary aim!

@TheBirdintheCave - I'm sorry you're feeling so worried. Do you mean it's no darker from yesterday? Is it a blue dye test? Please try not to worry yourself. I know it's easier said than done but these tests don't tell us how well it's rising or whether it's progressing. It just tells us we are pregnant. I can't find the picture but my "line progression" last time was all over the place. Darker one day, lighter the next. I never once got a dye stealer and my HCG was over 5000 at the clinic!!
All that matters is that it's positive.

Also, @TheBirdintheCave, would 6am not have been your FMU? Aren't you using second?

@Olivia199 We have two ClearBlue's left so the plan was to take one with FMU (as the one we took on Friday was) and then use the second one with the SMU around 9am to see if it's any darker.

I've taken the ClearBlue's once every two days since 5dp5dt. First was incredibly faint, second faint but obvious and the one this morning is also faint but obvious.

Just feels like a bad sign really. I'm not as upset about it as I was yesterday but I think it's hit my husband quite hard as he is always the positive one.

@TheBirdintheCave - I'm so sad you're feeling like this. I have absolutely everything crossed that it's good news. It's so so hard. I've heard that the blue dye ones are a bit rubbish for getting darker. Have you got an FRER or pink dye tests you could try? May give you a more reassuring line.
This is such a hard road, we are all with you. X

@TheBirdintheCave - This was the darkest positive I got. If I remember correctly it was after test day... and these are the super sensitive ones! At the time I was devastated because everyone else was getting dye stealers.

For the same reason, I stayed far away from the "how many weeks" ones and will absolutely do that again. How many DPT are you now?

Morning @TheBirdintheCave, so sorry you're worried. As Olivia said I don't think the strength of the line is always a good indicator of things but completely understand why you are concerned. Is it just the tests that are worrying you or have you had any other symptoms?
Apologies if this isn't helpful or is insensitive in any way but I had an early loss in March (just under 6wks) and had lots of cramps before bleeding (I realise the progesterone may stop this), but my tests went negative very very rapidly- consistent across different brands. I think you still have lots of reasons to feel positive at this point ❤️

@Olivia199 @Walker12 Thanks for the vote of confidence guys but I really don't see this ending well for me.

FRERs are all out of stock everywhere at the moment it seems. I haven't seen one in Boots for ages otherwise I would definitely have used those.

Olivia it is surprising that that was your darkest FRER! I can imagine how scary that must have been.

Nothing else of concern to note, no cramps or bleeding and I still have my pregnancy symptoms (but appreciate that could be the progesterone). Technically 4 weeks today.

Will keep you posted re the 9am test but I think it's all for science at this point.

I'll keep taking the progesterone until told otherwise of course. My clinic don't do betas so not sure what they'll have me do if it's still a clear positive on Tuesday 🧐

Sending lots of hopeful vibes your way @TheBirdintheCave, it really is such a stressful process. Could you get a private beta somewhere else if needed?
I am waiting for my call before my transfer later and keep worrying we won't have anything. Wish they would bloody ring already!